Zechariah 9

The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

This is God's weighty message against the land of Hadrach, and it will come to rest on Damascus, for the eyes of all people, including all of Israel's tribes, are turned towards God.

And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.

Even Hamath will be touched by this; Tyre and Sidon too, despite their great wisdom.

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Tyrus constructed a formidable fortress, amassing wealth in silver and gold, as abundant as dust and mud on the streets.

Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Watch out, for the Lord will reject her, striking down her strength in the ocean; she will be consumed by flames.

Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

When Ashkelon witnesses it, they will tremble in fear. Gaza too will see and be filled with deep sadness. Ekron's hopes will be shattered in disappointment. The king of Gaza will meet his end, and Ashkelon will be left deserted.

And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

A people of mixed, foreign birth will take over Ashdod, and I will humble the arrogant Philistines.

And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

I will take the blood out of their mouths and the forbidden food from between their teeth. Then even those Philistines who are left will belong to our God; they will be like a clan leader in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

I will surround my home with protection against any threat, whether they are coming or going. No harm will come through, for I have witnessed it myself.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Celebrate with all your heart, dear people of Zion and Jerusalem. Your fair and saving King is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, a young foal.

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

I will end Ephraim's reliance on war machines and Jerusalem's on horses. Weapons of war will be no more. Instead, peace will be spread among all nations. His reign will stretch from one ocean to another, from the river to the farthest corners of the earth.

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

As for you, because of the blood that sealed my covenant with you, I have freed your captives from a barren, waterless pit.

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

Seek refuge in your fortress, you who are captivated by hope. Today, I promise to bless you twice as much.

When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

When I've empowered Judah, loaded Ephraim like an arrow, and rallied your children, Zion, against Greece's offspring, I've forged you into a mighty warrior's sword.

And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.

The Lord will watch over them, His actions swift as lightning. He will sound the trumpet, moving with the intensity of a southern storm.

The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

The Almighty will protect them. They will conquer and dominate with the simplest of weapons. They will celebrate, their joy echoing like the sound of wine being poured. They will be fulfilled, overflowing like bowls, and abundant like the edges of the altar.

And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

On that day, their God will rescue them, just like a shepherd saves his flock. They will shine like precious jewels in a crown, a beacon of hope in His land.

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

His kindness is immense, his beauty beyond measure! Grain brings joy to the youth, and new wine delights the maidens.